Hanover softball ready for Patriot League play

Hanover softball coach Joe Messina did not know what to expect to start the season.

The Indians moved players around to new positions and it included the insertion of three freshmen in their starting lineup.

By Mark Ducharme

Hanover softball coach Joe Messina did not know what to expect to start the season.

The Indians moved players around to new positions and it included the insertion of three freshmen in their starting lineup.

They would also get a glimpse of the future of Patriot League play to start the season. Plymouth North and Plymouth South are being added to the league in the fall of 2014. The two schools were the first two teams on Hanover’s schedule this season.

“All three freshmen are hitting the ball very well and they are also playing well in the field,” Messina said. “We have been hitting the ball. We did not take a day off from hitting in the preseason. Our defense will come around as we get more time outside.”

Messina said the defensive lapses might be a part of shuffling positions.

“There are girls at different positions than they have played in the past.” He said.

Lindsey North, Liana Striglio and Abby Harrison are the three freshmen that have made their way into the Hanover lineup. Harrison and North both homered against Plymouth North. North and Striglio both had three hits in the game as did Kayla McMahon and Angela Katsikas.

North in the Plymouth South game had two hits. Katsikas, McMahon and Emma Hardy also had two hits in the game.

“Angela Katsikas had five hits and five RBI in the first two games,” Messina said. “Linnea Martin has moved to shortstop and Kayla McMahon is playing first. They are both playing very well. We have more speed on the team this year.”

In the first game, Hanover pounded out 21 hits in a 15-7 victory against Plymouth North. They added 14 hits in their 10-8 win over Plymouth South in eight innings.

They added to a successful opening week with an 8-2 win over Rockland, and then started a new week in style with a 10-3 home victory over Scituate.

Sophomore pitcher Callie MacDonald was a big part of the story in the Scituate win, striking out 15 while allowing just four hits.

Alissa Tofuri had an RBI single, Lindsey North added a two-run double and Katsikas chipped in three hits, including a long RBI double.

“They’re a much improved team,” Messina said of Scituate. “They have a pitcher who throws the ball over the plate.”

A year ago, Hanover won just one non-league game in regular season and lost six, but they won their first three this year.

“We got different type of exposure in the five scrimmages,” Messina said. “We saw five different style of pitchers.”

In both of their first two games, the Indians fell behind and rallied to pull out each game.

Hanover led the Plymouth South game, 6-2, but fell behind, 7-6. They tied the game with a 3-2, two out bases loaded walk to Morgan Delaney in the seventh inning and scored three runs in the eighth for the win.

Plymouth North rallied to take a 5-2 lead in the opener with Hanover, but the Indians rallied for the win.

“Callie MacDonald pitched well in both games,” said Messina. “We gave up 15 runs in the first two games, but only five of those runs were earned.”

MacDonald struck out nine batters in the Plymouth North game while she struck out eight in the Plymouth South game. At the plate, she drove in two runs in the eighth inning against Plymouth South after getting three hits in the Plymouth North game.

She concluded the week with a 14 strikeout complete game against Rockland.

Delaney hit a three-run triple to break a 2-2 in the game and lead the Indians past the Bulldogs.

Strigliano and Katsikas both hit two doubles each in the win.

Hanover went into Patriot League play this week. They will Hingham, North Quincy and Quincy.

In all, Messina is excited about his youth movement.

“There’s a lot more teaching to do,” he said. “It’s fun to teach again. The last few years it has been more about repetition. Now we’re all brand new. I’m looking forward to the season.”